Boy Scout Crossing-Over Ceremony

When Justice turned 11 back in February, he started attending Boy Scout meetings instead of Cub Scout meetings.  His official "Crossing Over" ceremony however, was last week.

This was so exciting for Justice, he was really looking forward to leaving the Cub Scouts behind and taking on the challenge of Boy Scouts.  I, on the other hand, was not so excited.  I was sad.  I know growing up is inevitable, I've watched three other children go through this same phase, and with all of them it was tough on me for different reasons.   Justice is always going to be "my baby" and a Mama's boy, no matter how old he gets or where he falls out in the birth order of the family.  His initial health issues at birth and his later emotional issues with ADHD and anxiety made me much more protective of him than the other kids.  I have learned to let go over the years, and watching him overcome obstacles and flourish has been a great journey.  

I've posted about Cub Scouts several times.  I love Cub Scouts.  It's great fun and a wonderful learning experience.  I can't say enough about the Cub Scout program, with the caveat that you have to do it RIGHT in order for it work.  It's a huge commitment with tangible rewards at the finish line.  And parent involvement is paramount.  I was REALLY involved with him during all of his Cub Scout years, and although it was a ton of work, it was a great experience.  However, all good things must come to an end, and that really hit me when I went to buy his Boy Scout uniform.

Jack:  "Why are you buying the 'Brown Scout' uniform"?  

Me:  "Bubbie is going to be a 'Brown Scout' now.  He is too old to be a 'Blue Scout' now".

(And I start to get sad.  I'm such an emotional sap for this stuff.)

Jack:  "Bubbie is growing up".

Me:  "Yes, he is..."

While Cub Scouts is all about parental involvement, Boy Scouts is all about growing up and turning into a well rounded man.  It's about all things manly, and Mom's presence is no longer desired in the process.  I agree with it completely, but it doesn't mean it doesn't make me sad.  It does mean that I get to turn him over to his Dad and watch Dad turn him into a man.  He's a lucky boy, I can't think of anybody else I'd like to turn him over to to help him make that transformation.  

The weekend before he turned 11, I had a very good friend and our family photographer, John Tucker, take his portrait in his Cub Scout Uniform.

Cutest little Cub Scout EVER.

I also made him a surprise and gave it to him on his birthday.  I drew an arrowhead and made him a heavy duty wallhanging using his Arrow of Light that I made him for his Arrow of Light ceremony, then I sewed and/or hot glued all of his patches, pins, belt loops, etcetera that he earned while he was a Cub Scout.  He REALLY loved it, and it's hanging on the wall in his bedroom.  

Joe:  "WOW BABE, that's AWESOME".

Me:  "Thanks.  It was difficult to make, I'm glad it's over".

Joe:  "You know you have to make two more for the other boys, right?"

Me (Face-plant into the table):  "I do, don't I.  Thanks for reminding me".

I might just go ahead and sew the other two arrowheads now just to be done with it, and put them away until Jack and the player-to-be-named-later are old enough to have theirs.

This conversation with Joe was also really good for me.  He knew I was sad, and he reminded me that I get to go through Cub Scouts TWO MORE TIMES with the other boys.  That perked me up, I do still have two little ones in the hopper just waiting to be a "Blue Scout", as Jack has dubbed them.  

The ceremony starts out with a symbolic face-painting ritual.  Each color symbolizes something, and the parents get to paint the color on the boys face.

Justice is smiling because he knows Joe and I are going to come up with some random and embarrassing design for his face paint.

And he was right.  We didn't disappoint.  The rudolph nose and the mustache are classic.

After they do the face-painting ritual, the boy gets to "cross over" a "bridge" to symbolize his crossing over from Cub to Boy Scout.  He leaves his Cub Scouts on one side of the bridge, and is greeted by the Boy Scouts on the other side.  

And my heart catches in my throat.

The parents cross over with the boy, and I probably needed that just as much as Justice did.  That's my official cue to turn him over to the older boys, and most importantly, the great leaders on the other side. Including his Dad.

And yes, I'm fully aware of the size of that belly.  It's huge.

After the boy crosses over, the new Boy Scout gets a neckerchief of the troop he's joining. 

The new boys recite the Boy Scout Oath with the rest of the Boy Scouts.  The two new scouts are so small compared to the rest of the boys.  Hard to believe in a few short years Justice will be that tall.  

And they all shake hands.  You know, like manly men.  

Super proud of my boy, and I know he's in good hands.